That's a great story and all....except a 1/2 ton gasser typically will only get real world 17-20 mpg, and most diesel's recently can get 17-20 mpg as well. It's a valid question. Regardless of how much towing you will actually be doing or what you will be using the truck for. Put 5,000 lbs behind a gasser and you dropped to 8 mpg, put that same load behind the diesel and you still may get 10-14mpg.

Ever consider that he may want a crew cab truck AND a long bed? Can you get that in a half ton?

Maybe he doesn't need the diesel for towing, but perhaps needs the bed space and doesn't want a gasser and 10 mpg in a 3/4 ton truck?

Perhaps he plans to keep the truck for 500,000 miles, or perhaps he is curious as to what kind of mileage the truck will get and wanted to see what people were getting out of them and was asking a legitimate question in regards to what the total cost of ownership would be?

Would you buy a car with out knowing what it will cost you to insure?

Why is knowing how much fuel it would use any different?

Knowing the approximate fuel mileage of the vehicle you plan on purchasing is a consideration of the total cost of ownership.

Call me a cheap ass, but when I car shop....

I look at the potential repair costs for fairly common parts, shocks, struts, starters, alternators, etc.

I look at the potential repair costs of catostrophic repairs (trans, engine, axles)

I look at the insurance costs.

I look at the cost of fuel.

I look at the replacement cost for wear items (brakes, tires, etc)

I see nothing wrong with the question.

Not to mention if you are going to spend 50k on a new truck that gets 12 mpg and have the option of considering very new used trucks that may get 18mpg and only cost 30k.....being informed is not a bad thing, nor is it a declaration of what someone can, could, should, afford to drive.

You read way too much into what i said. I was rephrasing what i thought shaffer was saying. I was in no way implying it was a dumb question. But based on your replies a Duramax is more expensive in almost every category except the gas mileage towing.

You do make good points regarding what the OP's dad may want out of a truck, we do not fully know, i just went off of the Op saying he would be pulling a trailer here and there. I do agree with you 100% also on all of the things you look at before buying, nothing wrong with being an informed buyer.

Fwiw my 1/2 ton gets 12 MPG pulling my Fullsize blazer from Traverse City to Copemish. It is a mix of 45 and 55 mph driving with quite a few stops for turns or at lights.

I just got back from dealer. To clear things up a little more I was going to be buying the truck for him and using it when I wanted to tow/haul the dogs around. I tow with my 2010hd gasser a couple times a months right now going to the UP and back (4 spot enclosed, 2200lbs empty). I also have a 24 liberator that I tow in the summer. I also tow a couple jeeps around in the summer everynow and then on a tri axle trailer. My dad has decided that he doesn't want a crew cab right now though. I may still trade my truck and get this one though. It is a short bed but still longer then the half tons. After I told my friend that my dad didn't want it he offered to throw in a free 6.5" bds lift. I know the cost of ownership is more but I rarely keep a truck long enough to worry about major repairs. So right now I can get the truck lifted and have to buy my own wheels and tires and have a smaller monthly payment then my current 2010 2500hd gasser.

how do the new trucks with the 6 speed tow? I really dislike the 4L60E in mine..

My F150 6 speed is nice. The big things are the much better first gear (most of the 6 speeds are better than 4:1 first gear, almost like a creeper gear), and the RPM drops between shifts are less. In a 6L80, first gear is 30% lower, and you don't have the big 1-2 shift rpm drop, compared to a 4L60e.

For what its worth, my F150 (2009 supercrew 5.4 4x4 6 speed) does 10-12mpg towing our jeeps (TJ, or CJ8 with moderate lifts/tires), depending on if we are going 65 or 80. I would say 11-11.5 towing is typical.

Those I know with 5.3 Chevys usually do a touch better, but do run higher RPMs, 11-13mpg towing similar.

Those I know with 5.3 Chevys usually do a touch better, but do run higher RPMs, 11-13mpg towing similar.

that's interesting, my half ton gas truck experience was with my 2007 5.3 chevy, non 6 speed. But I was getting 8-10ish with the jeep, and 12-14ish with the boat (both lighter and more aerodynamic then the jeep)

After I told my friend that my dad didn't want it he offered to throw in a free 6.5" bds lift. I know the cost of ownership is more but I rarely keep a truck long enough to worry about major repairs. So right now I can get the truck lifted and have to buy my own wheels and tires and have a smaller monthly payment then my current 2010 2500hd gasser.

If mileage is one of your concerns my suggestion would be to not lift it and put bigger wheels and tires on it. Not only will that have an adverse affect on your fuel economy it will also cause other parts to wear faster and front end components on these big trucks are NOT cheap.